Sand-unloading device



l l i Q:11N mgm* N. C. DUNN.

SAND UNLOADING DEVICE. APPLICATION msn APR.12,1918.

1,374,068. muted Apr.. 5, 1921.

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@Dunya/1 N. C. DUNN.

SAND UNLOADING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. I2, 1918.

Panm Apr. 5, 1921.

' '2 SHEQTS-SHEET 2.

SLCozucig Uurrsnsra'rss satana aries NOBLE C. DUNN, 0F LITTLE RQCK, ARKANSAS.

sANn-UivLoanrivG nnvrcn.

Z 10 @ZZ whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that l, NOBLE C. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, infthe county of Pulaski and State ofV Arkansas, have invented new and useful lmprovements i in Sand-Unloading Devices,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved unloading device for suction dredges, and resides in the novel construction, combination, and operative arrangement of parts set forth in the following description and falling within the scope of what is claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, y

Figure 1 is a side view of the improvement.

Fig. 2 is an end view 'of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. e i

Fig. et is a transverse sectional view approximately on the line 1-fil of Fig.A 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation illustrating the valves in their open position.

i The primary object of the present invention is to produce a means for unloading sand, gravel, and othermaterial in a uniform manner Vand wherein the discharge pipe is so constructed and arranged `as to prevent the choking thereof.

The device also contemplates a construction and arrangement whereby water will at all times be arranged above the discharge pipe to prevent the entrance of air through openings therein, so that the suction from a pump connected with .the pipe will positively act upon the sand or other material which is gravitationally fed to the openings in the bottom of the pipe, and the said openings being controlledv by suitable valves whereby the same may be partly orV wholly covered in accordance with the grade of sand or other substance operated upon, as well as when the device is not vin use.

As disclosed by the drawings l employ a barge 10 upon which .is longitudinally arf ranged a bin. 11. The bin Vis substantially V-shaped in cross section and suitable braces 12 are provided between the said bin .and the barge to stabilize the bin. Passing entirely through the bin, adjacent to the lower or bottom portion thereof is a pipe 13, one of the ends of the pipe having a downward angle branch 14: directed into the water on which the barge 10 floats, and between this angle end and thel bin 11 the pipe'is pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented am. 5, leer;

Application led April 12, 1918. Serial 1To.'228,285.

vided with a hand controlled valve 15.v The' 1 opposite end of the pipe isconnected with al Y suction pump (not shown). l Y. A A The pipe 13, upon the flower surfaces thereof is provided with spaced openings 16 forming inlets. to the pipe,'and these inlet openings are each controlled by a valve 17.

'The valves areeach in the'nature'ofa short tube positioned for slidablemove-A ment'on the pipe 13. Secured on the pipe 1,3, at desired spaced intervals are collars 18 having each an upstanding arm 19. On each of the valves 17, adjacent one ofthe ends thereof is a lug 20. Pivotally secured to each of the lugs 20 is the bifurcated Yend'of I ing opening in the respective arms 19. The

shafts 23 pass through suitable bushings 24 Y in one side of the bin, the latter 'providing'.

a bearing for the shaft, and the outer'end of each of the shafts has secured thereon an angle lever 25.

rllhepipe 13, as stated, is disposed a slight distance above the lower portion or apex of the cross sectionalV-shaped bin 11, and the sand or other' substance 26 in the -bin will gravitate along the inclined sides of the bin to cover the pipe 13 as long as sufi'icient `materialvis in the bin for this purpose.V Y

The suction pump may have connected therewith a `branch pipe which mayl have its ends flexible and provided with a nozzle so that the water can be turnedY into the bin over the sand, but preferably, and as shown bythe drawings, an auxiliary pump 27 may be employed. 'lh-ispump draws the water from the stream Viii which the barge floats andvis provided with a flexible or other pipe 28 arranged over the bin to deliver water to the sand in the bin.V j l A valve 29 lis arranged on the suction pipe near .the Y suction pump this valve is opened before the'pump is actuated. Also before the pump is actuated .a sufficient quantity of water is letin the bin to yentirely -cover the pipe 13. The suction pipe is then brought into operation. The water in the bin prevents the entrance of air 1n the pipe 13 through the openings 16, and it will be Y noted that both a suction action by the pump ment between the valves and the pipe be water-tight, but it is necessary that sailicient water be let into the bin to provide a seal between the ports 16 Vof the valve and the pipe 13. A plurality of independently operated valves 17 are employed, in lieu of a single valve on the Vpipe 13, because the sand or other material will not, as a rule gravitate evenly to the bottom of the bin and suiiicient suction might not be exerted by the pump for drawing the sand through all of the openings orfports in the pipe, should all of the latter be uncovered` Again with the solid matter removed from above certain of the openings or ports in the pipe it is a diiiicult'mattcr to provide the proper' water seal, as the pump will draw out the water in greater proportion than the sand is sucked through the( pipe. The independent operating means for each of the valves permits of the openings in the pipe being partially or fully uncovered, in accordance with the matter acted on, so that 'certain of the parts, acting `upon say gravelV or hardened substances in the sand may be wholly opened, and certain Others, through which fine sand is flowing only partially uncovered,

so that danger of choking Vthe pipes by hardened materials may be effectively overcome. It is believed. from the foregoing the simplicityr and advantages of the construction will be apparent without further description. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: l

1. In a sand unloading device, a bin having its sides inclined Viinvardly from the top'to the bottom thereof, a suction-pipe arranged longitudinally in the bottom of the bin and passing therethrough, in combination with a pump for the suction pipe and a means for partly iiooding the bin to arrange the suction pipe therebelow; of sleeves comprising tubular valves arranged on the suction pipe, and means for slidingthe tubes longitudinally to cover respectivelyV the openings in thesuction pipe.

2. In a sand `unloading device, the combination with -a iloating barge, having a bin thereon, the side walls of which being inclined inwardly to the bottom thereof, al suction pipe extending longitudinally Y through the bin, said pipe having its bottom provided with spaced elongated openings, and means for partly flooding the bin to cover the pipe, of a valve for controlling each of the openings, each of said valves comprising a tube arranged on the said suction pipe, means arranged to one side 0f, the bin and barge for sliding said valves to partially or wholly cover or uncover the openings, and means for limiting the sliding movement of said valves in both directions.

3. ln a sand unloading device, the combination with a bin which is substantially V- shaped in cross section and which receives sand therein, a suction pipe arranged centrally. of the bin extending longitudinally therethrough and disposed a slight distance above the bottom thereof, said suction pipe having spaced elongated Vopenings at the bottom thereofyand means for partly flooding the bin to cover the suction pipe, of a slide-ble valve comprising a tube arranged on the pipe for each of the openings, means for limiting the movement of the valves inV both directions, an operating shaft for eachk of the valves disposed laterally of the bin and a handle for each of the shafts arranged exteriorly ofthebin.

e. In a 'sand unloading device, the combination with a bin which is substantially V-shaped in cross section, a longitudinally arranged suction pipe extending centrally of the bin and positioned ya slight distance above the bottom thereof, said suction pipe having its bottom providedl with spaced openings, and means for partly flooding the bin to cover the pipe, of a valve for controlling each of the openings, each of said nonna o. DUNN.

y In testimony whereof I afx my signature; 

